Fireplace insert

ABSTRACT

Air heating apparatus for placement within a conventional fireplace wherein room air is passed through a heat exchanger, warmed by the fire within the fireplace and exhausted back into the room by means of convection transfer. Baffles are provided to force the air to flow through an indirect path and thereby obtain increased contact with the heating surfaces. Heat exchange duct work extends across the back portion of the fireplace to absorb additional heat. Means are provided for adjusting the lateral spacing of heat exchange chambers within the fireplace. Ducts extend the intake and exhaust vents from the heat exchanger apparatus through the frontal plane of the fireplace. Means are provided for controlling the flow of air into and out of each of the vents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to heaters for installation withinfireplaces and more particularly to fireplace air heaters which provideflexibility in their installation and in the control of the operation ofthe device itself.

As a means of providing heat, conventional fireplaces are extremelyinefficient since substantially all the heated air is carried up thechimney and lost. Since a conventional fireplace primarily providesradiant heating, apparatus have been proposed for use with fireplaces towarm air in homes. Examples of these devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,132,563; 3,190,282; 3,866,595; 3,896,785; 3,965,886; 3,995,611and 4,008,707.

Although these devices increase the efficiency of the fireplaces, theyhave not been entirely satisfactory under all conditions of service,especially in the ease and flexibility of installation or in theprovision of adequate control and regulation of the heating provided bythe device.

Therefore, according to the present invention a fireplace air heater isprovided which provides heat transfer on both the sides and back wallsof the fireplace, yet is flexible to allow installation in fireplaces ofvarious sizes and shapes. In addition the fireplace heater of thepresent invention provides control means for regulating the heatingprovided by the unit itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An air heating apparatus which is placed within a fireplace comprising apair of chambers spaced apart and contiguous the sides of a fireplacewith each chamber having an upper and a lower air vent facing thefrontal opening of the fireplace. Means are provided to control the flowthrough each of the vents. Baffle means are disposed within the chambersto force the air through an indirect path and expose it to a substantialportion of the surface of the heated chambers. Duct work is provided forinterconnecting the rear portions of the heat chambers to absorb greaterheat and provide slidable adjustable means for varying the lateralspacing of the heat transfer apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the FIGURE which shows an isometric view ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the FIGURE there is shown an air heating apparatus 10 in accordancewith the present invention positioned in a fireplace 11 shown in phantomlines. The apparatus comprises a first chamber 12 and a second chamber14 interconnected by a first duct member 16 and a second duct member 18.

Chamber 12 is comprised of an intake vent 24 covered by a louver 24awhich is operated by a lever 24b. The louver and control mechanismprovide means for adjusting the rate of flow of air through the vent. Aduct 32 extends from the chamber 12 to vent 24.

An exhaust vent 26 for the chamber 12 is covered by a louver 26a whichis operated by a lever 26b. The louver is mounted on the end of a duct34 extending forward or toward the front of the fireplace as shown.

An upper baffle 22 extends across the interior of chamber 12 and isjoined to the back and side walls of chamber 12. A lower baffle 20likewise extends across the interior of chamber 12 and is joined to thefront and side walls.

The chamber 14 is constructed in the same manner and comprises the samecomponents as the chamber 12 except that it is a mirror image thereof.

The chambers 12 and 14 are connected at their rear portions by ductmembers 16 and 18. The duct member 16 is comprised of a horizontal ductmember 16a joined to an outlet duct 16b and an inlet duct 16c. Ducts 16band 16c are joined to chamber 12 and are in fluid communicationtherewith. Retainer screws 16e and 16f pass through the horizontal ductmember 16a.

The duct member 18 includes a horizontal duct member 18a, an outlet duct18b and an inlet duct 18c. Ducts 18b and 18c are joined to chamber 14and are in fluid communication therewith. The horizontal member 18acontains horizontal slots 18e and 18f which align respectively withretainer screws 16e and 16f in duct member 16.

To install the heating apparatus 10 of the present invention, thechambers 12 and 14 are positioned in fireplace 11 and are laterallyadjusted to be adjacent the walls of the fireplace to fill the fullwidth thereof. This adjustment is accomplished by telescoping ductmember 18 within duct member 16. After the unit is aligned within thefireplace the retainer screws 16e and 16f are tightened to rigidly jointogether the two chambers 12 and 14.

Combustible material is placed within the center of the fireplace andignited so that the resulting flame heats chambers 12 and 14 as well asduct members 16 and 18. Heat is transferred to the air within theapparatus 10 thereby causing the air to rise and pass through theexhaust vents 26 and 28. Air within the duct members 16 and 18 is alsoheated and caused to rise through the sections 16b and 18b into therespective chambers and out the vents 26 and 28. As the warm air passesthrough the exhaust vents, a partial vacuum is created and room air ispulled in through the intake vents 24 and 30. The room air being broughtinto the heating chambers is drawn in from floor level and is thereforecooler than the air being exhausted back into the room. The air enteringthe chambers 12 and 14 is then heated whereby it rises and passesthrough the exhaust vents into the room. The baffles 20 and 22 force theincoming air to take an indirect path between the inlet and exhaustvents thereby exposing the air to more of the surface of the heatingchambers 12 and 14. This process causes the air to absorb more heat andreach a higher temperature.

The louvers and controls on each of the vents can be used to control therate of flow of air through the heating chambers and thereby control theamount of warm air that is provided to the room. In addition circulationbetween the two chambers 13 and 14 can be controlled by selectivelyadjusting the louvers. If desired, the louvers can be fully closed tocompletely shut off the flow of warm air.

The air heating apparatus 10 is constructed of a suitable material thatis a good heat conductor, is sufficiently strong to withstand theloading of logs into the fireplace and is relatively resistent tocorrosion. Suitable metallic materials which meet these requirements aresteel, iron and aluminum.

It is to be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates only to apreferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous alterations maybe utilized to practice the present invention without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air heating apparatus for placement within afireplace, comprising:(a) a pair of chambers each chamber comprising:(i)two vertically disposed side panels, (ii) front and rear panels narrowerthan said side panels and joined to said side panels, (iii) horizontallydisposed top and bottom panels joined to said side, front and rearpanels, (iv) a first vent disposed near the bottom of said front panel,(v) a second vent disposed near the top of said front panel, (vi) afirst baffle disposed within said chamber, joined to said front panelabove said first vent, joined to said side panels, and inclined upwardaway from said front panel, said first baffle stopping short of saidrear panel, (vii) a second baffle disposed within said chamber joined tosaid rear panel at a point lower than said second vent, joined to saidside panels, and inclined upward away from said rear panel with the endof said second baffle opposite said rear panel positioned above saidfirst baffle and stopping short of said front panel, (b) a pair ofY-shaped ducts joined in fluid communication to each other throughhorizontally disposed members with one duct joined in fluidcommunication to each chamber comprising:(i) an upward disposed ductmember connected to the rear, upper portion of said chamber above thepoint of connection of said second baffle to said rear panel, (ii) adownward disposed duct member connected to the rear, lower portion ofsaid chamber below the point of connection of said second baffle to saidrear panel, (c) means in said horizontally disposed members forpermitting the lateral adjustment of said members so that the spacingbetween said chambers may be varied.
 2. An air heating apparatus forplacement within a fireplace as recited in claim 1, including ductsintegral to said chambers and extending said vents from said chambers tothe frontal opening of said fireplace.
 3. Air heating apparatus forplacement within a fireplace, comprising:(a) a pair of chambers spacedapart for positioning adjacent to the sides of said fireplace, eachchamber being defined by inner and outer side panels joined to top,bottom, front, and rear panels with the front panel of each chamberhaving an upper air vent and a lower air vent therein; (b) a firstinclined baffle disposed within each of said chambers between the airvents, said first baffle extending from the front panel toward the rearpanel but stopping short of the rear panel in each chamber; (c) a secondinclined baffle disposed within each of said chambers between the airvents, said second baffle extending from the rear panel over said firstbaffle and toward the front panel but stopping short of the front panelin each chamber; (d) cross duct means joined between the inner panels ofthe chambers adjacent to the rear panels thereof for connecting in fluidcommunication said chambers, said cross duct means including V-shapedends connected to said chambers across the second incline bafflestherein.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 including adjustable louverscovering said vents.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein saidcross duct means comprises;(a) a first member having a horizontal ductwhich is joined to a first upward disposed duct and to a first downwarddisposed duct, said first upward and said first downward disposed ductsbeing joined to the inner panel of one of said chambers, (b) a secondmember having a horizontal duct slidably joined to the horizontal ductof said first member and joined to a second upward disposed duct and toa second downward disposed duct, said second upward and said seconddownward disposed ducts being joined to the inner panel of the other oneof said chambers, and (c) means for fixing said first member relative tosaid second member.
 6. A fireplace air heating apparatus comprising:(a)a pair of chambers for insertion into a fireplace adjacent to the sidesof the fireplace, said chambers having side panels joined to andmaintained in spaced relation by front and rear panels; (b) upper andlower vents communicating with the front panel of each of said chambers;(c) a first baffle disposed within each said chamber, said first bafflebeing joined to said front panel above said lower vent, attached to saidside panels and inclined upwardly away from the front panel and stoppingshort of said rear panel; (d) a second baffle disposed within each saidchamber, said second baffle being joined to said rear panel at a pointbelow said second vent, attached to said side panels and inclinedupwardly away from said rear panel with the end of said second baffleopposite said rear panel positioned above said first baffle and stoppingshort of said front panel; and (e) a pair of Y-shaped ducts joined influid communication to each other and to each of said chambers, eachsaid Y-shaped duct including an upward disposed duct member connected tothe rear, upper portion of said chamber above the point of connection ofsaid second baffle to said rear panel and a downward disposed ductmember connected to the rear, lower portion of said chamber below thepoint of connection of said second baffle to said rear panel.
 7. Afireplace air heating apparatus as recited in claim 6 including ductsintegral to said chambers that extend said vent through the frontalopening of said fireplace.
 8. A fireplace air heating apparatus asrecited in claim 6 wherein said means operatively associated with eachof said vents is a louver.
 9. A fireplace air heating apparatus asrecited in claim 6 wherein said duct means are lengthwise adjustable toallow adjustment of the lateral spacing of said chambers.
 10. Afireplace air heating apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said ductmeans comprises:(a) a first member having a horizontal duct which isjoined to a first upward disposed duct and to a first downward disposedduct, said first upward and said first downward disposed ducts joined tothe rear portion of a first of said chambers, (b) a second member havinga horizontal duct slidably joined to the horizontal duct of said firstmember and joined to a second upward disposed duct and to a seconddownward disposed duct, said second upward and said second downwarddisposed ducts joined to the rear portions of a second of said chambers,and (c) means for fixing said first member relative to said secondchamber.